Kamome shokudo

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KAMOME DINER:

Finnish seagulls

are enormous.

Their fat bodies

waddle along the wharf.

They remind me of a cat

I had as a young girl.

Nanao, the cat,

weighed 10.2kg.

She wasn't tame and

was always getting into fights.

Everyone hated her.

She only showed affection to me,

she let me pat her belly.

She used to purr.

I really loved Nanao.

I used to feed her without

telling Mom.

She ended up so fat

that she died.

A year later

Mom was hit and killed by a truck.

I loved her very much.

But strangely, I cried more

for Nanao than I did for Mom.

I don't think that's because Dad,

a martial artist,

always told me never to cry

in front of others.

I really like fat animals.

I love the way they devour

their food so contentedly.

My mother was very skinny.

Seagull Diner

She's been here

a month now.

I've never seen

any customers.

So tiny.

Is she a child or an adult?

I'll bet she's still a child.

She could be one of

those tiny adults.

It's more a "Child's Diner",

than the "Seagull Diner."

KAMOME?

Yes, KAMOME.

Welcome.

Coffee, please.

Certainly.

Thanks.

You speak good Japanese.

That's Nyarome, the cat?

You like Nyarome?

Yes, I do.

Who is it, who is it, who...

Do you like "Gatchaman?"

Gatchaman...

that cartoon.

Who is it, who is it, who is it

Do you know the lyrics?

All of them?

Wait a moment please.

Who is it, who is it, who is it...

Who is it?

Who is it?

No need to pay.

You're the very first

customer I've had.

So your coffee is free.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Who is it, who is it, who...

"Moominsummer Madness"

Excuse me.

Do you know the

Gatchaman song?

What was that?

Gatchaman?

Certainly, I know it.

Could you please teach me?

Well, yes.

Who is it, who is it, who is it

A shadow dancing

in the sky

The great white wings of

Gatchaman

Taking a leap,

on faith,

Faith in the science

behind the firebird

Fly, fly, fly, Gatchaman

Go, go, go, Gatchaman

The Earth is all alone,

the Earth is alone

0hh, Gatchaman, Gatchaman

Here.

Great.

That's perfect.

My brother loved that cartoon,

we watched it together.

I'm so lucky.

That song kept repeating in

my head a million times.

But why that one?

I run a diner here in town.

Some kid asked me

for the lyrics the song.

I just couldn't remember them.

What a relief that is.

It's like finally scratching

that itchy spot.

- Thank you so much.

- Not at all.

So you run a diner here?

Yes, I do.

With your husband?

No.

By yourself?

Yes.

That's great.

It's just a tiny little place.

Are you a tourist?

No.

Business trip?

No, not really.

Come to see the trolls?

Not at all.

A stab in the dark.

Stab in the dark?

Yes, that's it.

I wanted to go somewhere

far away.

I spread a world map and

closed my eyes...

Then I stabbed my finger

and I hit Finland.

I got here yesterday.

That's why I'm here now.

That's amazing.

- Not really.

- A very rare case.

You think so?

I have a question.

If you'd pointed at Alaska,

would you have gone there?

Yes.

If Tahiti,

would you have traveled there?

Of course.

I see.

But I really had to do it.

There was no other choice.

When you're determined,

there is no choice.

I felt the same way.

So you came?

Yes, and here I am.

So, welcome to Finland.

I've tentatively booked a hotel

for a week.

But I don't know what to do.

I walked around

and found this book store.

So I came in.

How long will you stay?

I haven't decided yet.

Well...

As a token of

my thanks to you,

you're welcome to

stay at my place.

Thanks.

That was a good bath.

Great.

The Land of the

Midnight Sun.

It's still light outside.

Quite strange, isn't it?

Don't be afraid to ask

for my help.

Not at all.

Please make yourself at home.

Thank you for everything.

Let's sit down.

Have as much as you like.

I partake.

I partake.

Sorry you came all this way

to eat Japanese food.

Thank you.

You serve Japanese food

at your diner?

But why Finland?

I thought I didn't have to

do it in Japan.

So you came to Finland?

I thought the Finns would

appreciate good, basic food.

Why was that?

Well look, with Italy you think

of pizza, or pasta.

What about Germany?

Sausages?

In Korea

it'd be spicy cabbage.

In India, it's the curries.

Thailand, Tom Yam and

America, hamburgers.

What about Finland?

Salmon?

Of course.

Just think, what is a typical

Japanese breakfast?

Broiled salmon.

See?

That's my point.

Both Japanese and Finns

love salmon.

Of course.

Actually, I just made

that up now.

To tell the truth,

I thought I'd do well here.

I thought Finland

would be the place.

But not yet.

I haven't had many customers.

The main thing I offer

is seasoned rice balls.

Rice balls...?

Good day.

Welcome.

This is the chap who

speaks Japanese.

How are you?

Very well, thank you.

This is my friend,

Midori.

I'm Tommi Hiltnen.

Midori.

She knows the lyrics

of that song.

The Gatchaman song?

I'd better be off.

See you later.

Where's she going?

Sightseeing.

Hello.

Did you have a good time?

I saw almost all the

sightseeing spots.

You must be tired.

How about coffee?

Don't bother.

I've nothing else to do.

Sugar and milk?

I'll have milk, please.

Here you are.

Look, I've had a bit of a think.

Could I possibly help out

at the diner?

I can't just sponge off you.

I can clean, anything.

And I...

No, you wouldn't have to pay me.

I have my own money.

It's actually boring.

But are you sure?

I'm positive.

In that case, you're hired.

Thank you.

I really appreciate it.

There's another one here now.

Yes, you're right.

It's a big one this time.

Here's some cartoon trivia.

"Snufkin" is brother

to "Little My."

But different fathers, though.

They're half-brothers.

No way!

You didn't know that?

There's so much we never

get to learn.

May I ask you a question?

Why did you take in a

total stranger like myself?

Well, because...

...anyone who can remember

that song can't be bad.

Perhaps...

Is that something you

just made up?

You can tell?

That's a perfect theme.

You've really hit the spot.

You think so?

It suits the diner's

atmosphere perfectly.

Hello.

Welcome.

Midori, you serve.

Here you are.

Please write my name

for me.

- In script...

- Ideographs?

In Chinese characters?

Tommi Hiltnen.

Tommi Hiltnen...

Ton (Pig) Mi (Body)

Hil (Day) Tnen (Pray)

What are you doing?

It's a form of Aikido.

A basic squat.

I've done it since

I was a child.

It's something I do

every night.

I used to practice Yoga.

This is a pose called

"lotus flower in early bloom."

I can see it.

Look, about the diner...

Since we don't have many

customers,

why not put ads in

the Helsinki guide books?

Now, Tommi

is our only customer.

But in fact,

he's not really.

He gets his coffee

for free.

But he was my

first customer.

He gets it free forever.

I reckon most Japanese think

our food is the world's best.

And I agree with that.

Any Japanese in a

foreign country

must surely miss Japanese food.

If they knew about

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